Car wax vs. polish; what do you use?

pecetrn · 11-08-2006, 06:23 PM

I have heard that polish is better for your car than using conventional wax. I recently tried TR-3 resin and it works well. Does anyone have any other suggestions for a car wax vs polish and what brand do you use?

karnito · 11-08-2006, 09:32 PM

I use car polish spray from Honda. It is sold at Honda dealership with the pink letters written on it. I was using this product in the early 90's when it was sold only at the motorcycle shops. It has silicon and teflon in the content and leaves a nice sense after ward. Personally I like this over any wax products out there because it is simply faster, easier to apply, really good for the paint, and it is developed by Honda. Over a decade and I am still using it

Halo · 11-09-2006, 10:52 AM

The terminology for this is about as confusing as anything else these days.

A polish, techincally, has abrasives that remove a small amount of the clearcoat to smooth out a finish. It can be anywhere from coarse for use with a random orbital buffer or real fine that can be done by hand. A "wax" fills in imperfections in the finish. It can be natural or synthetic.

I use zaino, although I must admit I don't have entire weekends to burn to do the whole job any more.

Check out this amazing guide written by an s2ki.com member on how to detail the S2. (Personally, it's more work than I would ever do, but it's nice to have it all spelled out):
http://home.comcast.net/~michael.coh..._Hand_Book.pdf

gomarlins3 · 11-09-2006, 11:19 AM

I have used Zaino and had good results. I tried Mother's and liked it as well. I then stripped all the wax off of the hood and tried Zaino on one half of the hood and Mother's on the other half and couldn't see a difference. Since Mother's was one step and Zaino was multiple steps, I went with Mother's. Both worked well though.

pecetrn · 11-09-2006, 11:35 AM

Wow. thats a lot of information, thanks!

Java Junky · 11-09-2006, 04:58 PM

No surprises, but Halo's take on polish n' wax is right on the money.
An easy example of the differences is using wax on a pair of plastic lensed glasses. Check for clarity. Now try polish. (Oh, but when you use the polish you might wanna use someone elses glasses. Someone that you can outrun)
Be well.
Java

11-08-2006, 06:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
pecetrn Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 49	Car wax vs. polish; what do you use? I have heard that polish is better for your car than using conventional wax. I recently tried TR-3 resin and it works well. Does anyone have any other suggestions for a car wax vs polish and what brand do you use?

11-09-2006, 11:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
gomarlins3 "Enjoy the drive" Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kuna Idaho Posts: 2,644	I have used Zaino and had good results. I tried Mother's and liked it as well. I then stripped all the wax off of the hood and tried Zaino on one half of the hood and Mother's on the other half and couldn't see a difference. Since Mother's was one step and Zaino was multiple steps, I went with Mother's. Both worked well though. __________________ Yablownowitz Racing brought to you by Anytime Fitness. Happiness is a nice road, great weather, and driving the S with Sue in the seat next to me. "Whatever you do, where ever you go, enjoy the drive." I know for a FACT that the last year of production of the S2000 is 2003!!!!! After that, it will be the S2200 under an assumed name.

11-09-2006, 04:58 PM	#6 (permalink)
Java Junky Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Joisey Posts: 5,482	No surprises, but Halo's take on polish n' wax is right on the money. An easy example of the differences is using wax on a pair of plastic lensed glasses. Check for clarity. Now try polish. (Oh, but when you use the polish you might wanna use someone elses glasses. Someone that you can outrun) Be well. Java __________________ In life-long pursuit of that most mythic of beasts: the ever-elusive perfect corner. Well . . . that, r' at least a whole lodda clear spin-out room.

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11-08-2006, 09:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
karnito Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 258	I use car polish spray from Honda. It is sold at Honda dealership with the pink letters written on it. I was using this product in the early 90's when it was sold only at the motorcycle shops. It has silicon and teflon in the content and leaves a nice sense after ward. Personally I like this over any wax products out there because it is simply faster, easier to apply, really good for the paint, and it is developed by Honda. Over a decade and I am still using it

11-09-2006, 10:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
Halo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 610	The terminology for this is about as confusing as anything else these days. A polish, techincally, has abrasives that remove a small amount of the clearcoat to smooth out a finish. It can be anywhere from coarse for use with a random orbital buffer or real fine that can be done by hand. A "wax" fills in imperfections in the finish. It can be natural or synthetic. I use zaino, although I must admit I don't have entire weekends to burn to do the whole job any more. Check out this amazing guide written by an s2ki.com member on how to detail the S2. (Personally, it's more work than I would ever do, but it's nice to have it all spelled out): http://home.comcast.net/~michael.coh..._Hand_Book.pdf

11-09-2006, 11:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
pecetrn Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 49	Wow. thats a lot of information, thanks!